Ovechkin on the way

Ovechkin on the way

Russian star could play in semi-final

Published 14.05.2015 17:07 GMT+2 | Author Martin Merk

Russian national team captain Alexander Ovechkin accepts the trophy after beating Finland in the gold medal game of the 2014 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship. Photo: Andre Ringuette / HHOF-IIHF Images

Alexander Ovechkin will travel to the Czech Republic to play for the Russian national team in the semi-finals – providing that it beats Sweden tonight.

Ovechkin’s Washington Capitals lost Game 7 to the New York Rangers in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Wednesday night. Despite Ovechkin’s opening goal, the Caps lost 2-1 in overtime at Madison Square Garden.

The national team’s General Manager, Andrei Safranov, told the Russian media that the team management decided to use the last open spot on the roster for Ovechkin.

“Today we play against the Swedes, after that we will register Ovechkin,” Safranov announced. “Under normal circumstances he should fly to the Czech Republic tonight.”

Ovechkin is expected to join the team tomorrow, but before that his teammates will have to overcome Sweden in the late quarter-final game in Ostrava.

For Ovechkin it would be his 11th World Championship participation and the sixth consecutive since 2010. The three-time Hart Trophy winner claimed World Championship gold with Russia in 2008, 2012 and 2014.